Traditional System of Government:
The ruler was called Nabongo. On the burial day of the dead nabongo a cow was speared to death. The man who held the cow by the rope became the nabongo if the cow happened to pass water while he still held it. He was usually nominated by the dying nabongo subject to the formal concurrence of the elders. The elders made the appointment if the nabongo died without having nominated one. They could also reject the nominee of the nabongo if he was not a reliable son with good character. The nabongo was buried in a cow-hide when he died.
           
The ruler had a copper bracelet, a leopard skin, and the “ikutusi” or cloak. He also had a head-dress, decorated with cowry shells and the “isimbishira” (whydah bird) bird’s feathers, a spear, a stool, and copper coils in the ears. These things were heritable. The nabongo ruled the entire clan of the Abafofoyo; he also had his elders in all the clans of the Abafofoyo who were his assistants. The elders of the nabongo were the ones who judged cases. He himself only presided over the more serious cases which the elders could not settle. The nabongo never went to war. Equally, the nabongo was neither a sacrificial priest nor a medicine man. Nevertheless, he was a rain-maker.

An African chief in full regalia.